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tony09890
tony09890

Hi all, I've just been diagnosed with Uticaria - oh joy.   Initially I had it just on the lower back but it gradually spread and now I get it over my entire back, front, neck, buttocks, back of thighs and knees.   The Dermotologist gave me a script for Cetrizine and another for Loratadine.   I am first to try the Cetrizine and if that doesn't work the Loratadine, 4 x 10mgs per day.

When I first noticed it I started applying 1% Antroquoral cream.   It kept the itch away but the rash spread.   I saw my GP who prescribed a 2% solution which does basically the same.   Biggest problem is it only lasts a few hours and then the itch returns.   I've been on the Cetrizine for 4 days now and aren't seeing any relief.

I've found animene (Calamine) tends to relieve the itch longer but tends to rub off during the night so I use that during the day and the Antroquoral during the night (twice).

Interestingly, I also have had PMR for the last few months and have been on Prednisone, it was after going on Prednisone I came down with Uticaria.

So now I have two maladies with no known cause, no known cure and will probably stick with me for a few years if not for life, ain't life grand.   What's next I keep asking myself, all these pills plus being a diabetic I guess I know what's coming - dialysis.

0 likes, 38 replies

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  • heather94146
    heather94146 tony09890

    Posted

    I know the feeling of doom! When I broke out in hives for the third time in my life this summer, I just cried! I just couldn't do this ...AGAIN. First time I had them for 1 1/2 yrs, then about 8 1/2 years later I got them again- for 3 years that time so for sure I'd have them for 6 years ....or forever.

    I was exhausted by the thought of running to doctors and taking all kinds of pills for something there is no cure for! THEN I found this discussion group!!

    Everyone on here has been through it all. When one of the ladies suggested going gluten free, leaky gut & elimating foods at first I was thinking -Im suffering enough, now I cant enjoy foods I love? But it's completely opposite....I feel like a million bucks!

    Everyone has their own issues but as I read about leaky gut there was no way this couldn't help me in some form or another. I don't even want to cheat! I hope you read up on it. I don't like to "preach" about anything but with in a few days I felt a little better, then with in 3 weeks I was hive free and cut down my medicine regimen. I still take a Claritin in the morning and a Zyrtec & 1 benedryl at bedtime. I am just too nervous to cut those out too, but in a few months I will try. I also seem to have a problem when I eat beef so I just avoid it but if I want to have it, I just have a small amount.

    I hope you keep coming back on here. There are so many good tips you can pick up. You have to be careful because you have diabetes but from what I read, this way of eating can help that as well! Let's hope you can avoid dialysis!

    • debbie61829
      debbie61829 heather94146

      Posted

      Heather, what did you take out of your diet? I would like to try it. I am tired of dr visits, scripts for no reason. I hope you can give me some pointers.

      Thank you Debbie

    • heather94146
      heather94146 debbie61829

      Posted

      lorraine34338 was one of the ladies that helped me when I was out of my mind with my hives. I wish I could remember the other lady as well.

      I am not able to do the Paleo diet so I just stopped all breads, pastas,cookies,cakes...anything that was gluten. I do eat corn grits and white jasmine rice because it was all I could tolerate in the beginning. I was also having stomach.issues

    • heather94146
      heather94146

      Posted

      (Sorry, I sent that before I was finished)

      I don't know if all of the medicine triggered it or if it was from the hives but whenever I ate, within 30-60 min after, I was doubled over in agony. I wanted to die. I thought it was.my galbladder, but test proved it wasnt. Afrer switching to gf....not one stomach issue!

      I eat apples,veggies,salads with a little olive oil dressing. White meat chicken (not fried or breaded). I feel great! I still have some work to do with cleaning up my diet but I can live normally. I did have 2 hard ciders this weekend, which I know alcohol is a no-no, but sometimes life calls for a drink! I also found gluten free pretzels save me when i want a snack on something salty(1 ouncertainty or 1 1/2 oz). I always make air poppped popcorn but i havent had it since my stomach has been better.My rule is;eat as much whole foods as possible. Fruit, veggies (I love squash-spaghetti & butternut are my fav), fresh chicken, wile caught fish (I've only had salmon recently), herbs, herbal teas too (organic). The hot lemon water for me is so good. I also drink water all day long. Some days more than others but I put lemon or lime in that as well and it's helps! Pint rest is full of gluten free recipes. I don't do the ones that call for a zillion ingredients. ..it gets expensive.

    • heather94146
      heather94146 debbie61829

      Posted

      One thing I need to add is I still use cows milk. I want to switch to but I have been looking into dairy alternatives and I'm just so confused! Some seem to have nothing but sugar and chemicals. I don't know which the best choice for taste is so for now I just use a splash in my coffee.
    • james18331
      james18331 heather94146

      Posted

      Coors Light is considered Gluten free, but not advertised as such. I've seen tests on the internet and it passed.
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 heather94146

      Posted

      Try rice, oat or coconut milk it's great on cereal or custard or rice pudding etc. It's not so good in coffee or tea so don't try. Soya milk is high in histamine so avoid. Don't drink black or green tea for the same reason.
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 james18331

      Posted

      Yes but fizzy drinks whatever they are are full of histamine. I was t-total for a year while l was trying to get rid of mine. Now my hives are dormant (for the time being!) l have started having alcohol but not wine - l daren't try that.
    • heather94146
      heather94146 lorraine34338

      Posted

      I have had vodka & a Margarita (tequila ) but I am trying to keep it very minimal because I'm still on some antihistamines, I've lost weight & I'm sure my gut doesn't appreciate it.haha!

      I just have to find the right coconut milk (brand) that I like & has good ingredients unless you mean just pure coconut milk. I do use my son's rice milk in my coffee when we are out of cows milk. Do you think seltzer water is bad? I just thought since it was carbonated water with no flavorings or chemicals then it was ok?

    • heather94146
      heather94146 james18331

      Posted

      That's because it's basically just water..lol. I heard something about Michelob ultra but I don't think I could confirm it. I've joined a few gf groups on facebook, hopefully someone can recommend a good one.
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 heather94146

      Posted

      Just anything other than normal milk or soya. It's the lactose that's the problem in cow's milk so anything lactose free would be OK.
  • lorraine34338
    lorraine34338 tony09890

    Posted

    If you've been on NSAIDs (antiinflammatories) this could well have triggered urticaria and although prednisone works in the short term be careful because you can get rebound after you finish the course.

    I found bathing the itchy area with a strong saline solution took the itch away maybe not after first time but if you repeat it a few times you should get relief. The creams doctors give you don't work. I gave up on them.

    Also check whether the areas becoming itchy are where your clothes are chafing. Or where you sweat or get hot. Another trigger is stress and ill health.

    I'm clear at present so there can be an end to it.

  • tony09890
    tony09890

    Posted

    So Gluten free and saline is the go?   But what is leaky gut?
    • heather94146
      heather94146 tony09890

      Posted

      Gluten free for me!! I am not prefect. I still have a morning cup of regular coffee with a little milk (I dont use sugar in my cofree anyway). I've cut down on my sugar intake significantly because I'm not eating cakes but I will tell you I do make some gluten free treats so I don't eat anything with gluten. I don't drink soda anyway so giving that up was no problem for me. I do drink seltzer water with lemon. I also drink hot water with lemon and sometimes a little honey but I only add that when I want something sweet. For me this way of eating works and I've lost 9 lbs in 3 weeks without even trying!!! That feels pretty good too! I just searched "leaky gut" on the Internet. I went to a bookstore yesterday to buy a book on it but there weren't any but there are MANY to download on a Kindle or tablet.
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 tony09890

      Posted

      Leaky Gut is when small particles of food pass through your digestive tract (small intestines etc) because of small areas of minor damage, this causes the immune system to react.  I truly believe this, plus low oestrogen and some bouts of illness caused my urticaria.  I consulted a nutrionalist who believed in Leaky Gut Syndrome (in the UK most doctors and specialists don't because I asked them about it!) and arranged for me to have a gut permeability test.  This test uses special molecules (you drink along with a quite palatable solution) that is used to determine whether you have LGS. Its done via a urine sample that you complete over a period of 6 hours, to be explicit you have to collect your urine in a clean container and it's at the end of this time that the sample is taken and send to the lab. I did have LGS and the nutrionalist gave me a diet plan and what supplements I would need to mend my gut. The main supplements are L-Glutamine powder taken with water, a really good pro-biotic (not yoghurt it's not good enough), a good multi-vitamin.  I also had to rotate food so I wasn't having the same food every day as this can cause the reaction in the immune system.  Even now when my urticaria is hibernating (that's what I call it because I know it's only dormant) I rotate my foods. I hope this information is helpful to you.
    • heather94146
      heather94146 lorraine34338

      Posted

      I'm going to ask you because I can't figure it out. Can I take pre&probiotics with leaky gut?
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 heather94146

      Posted

      Absolutely make sure it's a really good one with lots of lovely benign bacterial. Good luck
    • lorraine34338
      lorraine34338 heather94146

      Posted

      I think you can but not as a pro-biotic for the gut mostly because even the live yoghurt doesn't have enough of the live bacteria needed to help sort the gut problem.  Leaky Gut Syndrome is a US investigation and there is alot about on the internet, including ideas on diet. The problem I found is that their diet has high histamine food that may affect us CIU people, so when I used it I limited myself to foods that where not high in histamine.  Its very limiting but it worked for me and I lost 8lb which I needed to lose anyway.
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